Waikeria Prison
(07) 872 6700
Street Address
SH 3
Te Awamutu
Waipa
Postal Address
Private bag 2400
Te Awamutu 3840
Internet
Waikeria Prison is New Zealand's second largest prison, accommodating up to 1031 sentenced and remand prisoners with security classifications ranging from minimum to high-medium. The prison employs 480 staff.
Waikeria Prison opened in 1911 and New Zealand's first detention centre for youth was later established at the site in 1961. Following the abolition of borstal training in 1981, Waikeria became a youth institution. Waikeria Prison became a men's prison in 1985 following the enactment of the Penal Institutions Amendment Act 1985 and has grown and evolved since that time.
The Prison is set on a 1200 hectare site near Te Awamutu and is part of Prison Services' Central Region.